🏈 Giants NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Mock Draft Picks, Best Prospect Fits, Team Needs & More
The New York Giants already held the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft before a blockbuster trade that sent Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati in return for the No. 10 pick - giving John Harbaugh two top-10 selections in his first draft with New York and a chance to fast-track the rebuild around second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart.
As part of our NFL draft predictions for every team, we break down the Giants' full draft picks, biggest team needs, ideal prospect fits, mock draft projections, and our prediction for which player New York will draft in the first round, which begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
📊 Giants draft picks 2026
See where the Giants rank by the latest Super Bowl odds for every team.
| Round | Pick(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No. 5, 10 (via CIN) |
| 2 | No. 37 |
| 3 | No pick |
| 4 | No. 105 |
| 5 | No. 145 |
| 6 | No. 186, 192, 193 |
| 7 | No. 221 |
🆘 Giants team needs entering draft
We break down every team's projected NFL win totals with our best Over/Under picks by division.
- Team needs: DL, OL, CB, LB, WR
- Key additions: Isaiah Likely (TE), Daniel Faalele (OG), Darnell Mooney (WR), Tremaine Edmunds (LB), Jason Sanders (K), Greg Newsome II (CB)
- Key departures: Dexter Lawrence (DT, Bengals via trade), Russell Wilson (QB), Bobby Okereke (LB), Wan'Dale Robinson (WR, Titans)
Trading Lawrence bolsters this team's future but creates an immediate need along the defensive line - a key hole to fill given New York's recent investments along the edge. Even after adding Faalele, the offensive line still needs work after the Giants allowed 48 sacks last season. And they should be in position to add an impact defender on the second or third level in the top 10.
🏈 Giants draft prospect fits
I asked NFL draft expert Rob Paul to pick the Giants' best prospect fit in a dream scenario, their safest pick, and their best upside pick for Thursday:
| Pick type | No. 5 pick | Grade | Paul's take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Dream pick | Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State | 7.40 | Although taking an off-ball linebacker this early is usually tough to justify, Styles is one of the few blue-chip prospects in this class and can immediately be a tone setter for the John Harbaugh era in the Big Apple |
| 🛡️ Safe pick | Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State | 7.40 | Another blue chip prospect who plays a devalued position, like Styles, Downs can step into the starting lineup as a defensive leader in his rookie season thanks to his versatility, physicality, and IQ |
| 🚀 Upside pick | Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State | 7.25 | Joe Schoen can't go wrong taking a Buckeye, and Ohio State's No. 2 wide receiver would be a perfect complement to Malik Nabers and give Jaxson Dart a second Pro Bowl caliber receiver in the mold of a bigger DeVonta Smith |
⚠️ Editor's note
These picks were made before the Giants acquired the No. 10 pick from Cincinnati in the Dexter Lawrence trade. We will update this page with Paul's projection for both picks closer to the draft.
More scouting reports & player profiles
➡️ Arvell Reese draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jeremiyah Love draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Carnell Tate draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jordyn Tyson draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
📝 Giants mock draft consensus picks
I went through the latest mock drafts from other top experts across the industry and gathered their predictions for the Giants' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Here's who they expect New York to draft at No. 5:
| Source | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State |
| Chad Reuter (NFL.com) | Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami |
| Mike Renner (CBS) | Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State |
| Charles McDonald (Yahoo) | Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame |
Three of the six mocks we surveyed have the Giants selecting Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa to protect Dart, while two others have New York taking Ohio State safety Caleb Downs - a player Paul also listed as his safe pick. He's projecting one of Downs' teammates to be the pick at No. 5.
🔮 Giants draft prediction 2026
See Rob Paul's expert NFL mock draft for projections and analysis of all 32 first-round picks.
Paul's pick at No. 5: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
- Pro comparison: Karlos Dansby
- Measurables: 6'5" | 244 lbs | 21 years old | RAS: 9.99
Like Love, Sonny Styles plays a devalued position but is one of the easiest players to project to the NFL. The All-American is built like an edge rusher but has defensive back speed (4.46 40) and began his career at Ohio State as a safety. He would give John Harbaugh an alpha to lead the New York Giants' defense, with his instincts and physicality making him a nightmare against the run. He's one of the surest tacklers in recent draft history, too, with just a 2.2% missed tackle rate this past season.
What about No. 10? The Giants acquired this pick from Cincinnati in the Dexter Lawrence trade after Rob's mock was published. With Styles already in the fold at No. 5, New York could target a cornerback, offensive lineman, or pass-catcher with the No. 10 pick. We will update this section when Paul releases his revised projections.
🏈 NFL draft predictions by team
See the live NFL draft odds for the top picks from the best NFL betting sites.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, I broke down every team's full draft capital, their biggest needs and ideal prospect fits, the latest mock draft consensus from industry experts, and our draft prediction for their first pick this week:
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
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